Parents’ baby name choices linked to political leanings

Are the parents of these kids Democrats or Republicans? The babies’ names might give you the answer. (Getty / Siri Stafford)

Have you ever found yourself trying to figure out whether the parents of your child’s friend are Republicans or Democrats? A new study reveals that you might be able to make an educated guess based on the child’s name.

If the kid is called Lucas, the parents are more likely to be Obama supporters. If his name is David, then his parents were more likely to vote for Romney.

What’s the reasoning here?

Researchers at the University of Chicago found that liberal parents like names with softer, more feminine “L” and “A” sounds, especially with the “A” falling at the end of the name (Ella, Sophia, Liam, Lena). Conservatives go for names with harder, stronger, more masculine “D,” “K,” “T” and “B” sounds (Kurt, Kim, Donald, Bryce).

Another significant trend the study revealed is well-educated conservatives prefer traditional and common monikers while educated liberals are more likely to try something unusual. The parents of a Mary or Elizabeth are more likely to vote red while the parents of an Apple or London are most likely voting blue.

University of Chicago political scientist Eric Oliver, the study’s lead researcher, analyzed California birth records from the 545,018 babies born in California in 2004, representing 52,589 different names, according to Live Science. Oliver and his team counted unique spellings so Sophia and Sofia were considered two separate names. They then matched the names with California neighborhoods, and, using voting records, each neighborhood was identified as being red or blue.

Oliver found that education plays a key role in baby names. Less-educated parents were more likely to pick unusual names. But while educated liberals opted for more obscure yet pre-existing names, like Atticus and Finnegan, those parents without a college education were more likely to opt for unusual spellings (e.g., Andruw instead of Andrew) or pick entirely new names.

How do the names of famous politicians stack up against these findings?

The Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, are definitely the names of liberals–both end in the feminine “a” sound and Malia has the “l” sound. The Bush girls are Barbara and Jenna. Barbara is traditional and has a hard “B” sound—definitely the name of a republican. Jenna could go either way. It has the “a” sound at the end but it’s a rather common name. Also, consider the kids of the conservative Palin family. Track, Trig, Bristol and Piper all have hard sounds. Willow, on the other hand, with its soft “L” sounds is definitely the name of a liberal.

Mavis is suddenly hot, on the heels of her sleek cousin Maeve, thanks to the adorable vampire heroine (pictured) of 'Hotel Transylvania,' voiced by Selena Gomez. As with Finn, many parents mistakenly think Maeve is a diminutive that demands a more formal long form, which is another explanation for Mavis’s sudden 250 percent rise. Mavis is French for songbird and also derives from the Welsh word for strawberries.

Image 1 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Mavis is suddenly hot, on the heels of her sleek cousin Maeve, thanks to the adorable vampire heroine (pictured) of 'Hotel Transylvania,' voiced by Selena Gomez. As with Finn, many parents mistakenly think Maeve is a diminutive that demands a more formal long form, which is another explanation for Mavis’s sudden 250 percent rise. Mavis is French for songbird and also derives from the Welsh word for strawberries.

Mavis is suddenly hot, on the heels of her sleek cousin Maeve, thanks...to the adorable vampire heroine (pictured) of 'Hotel Transylvania,'...voiced by Selena Gomez. As with Finn, many parents mistakenly think...Maeve is a diminutive that demands a more formal long form, which is...another explanation for Mavis’s sudden 250 percent rise. Mavis is...French for songbird and also derives from the Welsh word for...strawberries.

Image 2 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Ray Fisher / Time & Life Pictures / Getty

Wilder is a newly hot baby name that wants to have it both ways: It’s a bad boy name as well as a literary choice thanks to playwright Thornton, who wrote the classic 'Our Town,' and 'Little House' author Laura Ingalls. Despite those gentle references, we can’t help associating Wilder with crazier. Views of Wilder are up nearly 200 percent for 2013.

Image 2 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Wilder is a newly hot baby name that wants to have it both ways: It’s a bad boy name as well as a literary choice thanks to playwright Thornton, who wrote the classic 'Our Town,' and 'Little House' author Laura Ingalls. Despite those gentle references, we can’t help associating Wilder with crazier. Views of Wilder are up nearly 200 percent for 2013.

Wilder is a newly hot baby name that wants to have it both ways:...It’s a bad boy name as well as a literary choice thanks to...playwright Thornton, who wrote the classic 'Our Town,' and 'Little...House' author Laura Ingalls. Despite those gentle references, we...can’t help associating Wilder with crazier. Views of Wilder are up...nearly 200 percent for 2013.

Image 3 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

This Top 10 Swedish name is attracting new attention here as a more exotic member of the popular floral family of girls’ names: It means twinflower and is derived from the name of the renowned botanist Carolus Linnaeus. It may be pronounced lin-NAY-ah or lin-NEE-ah. Linnea, also the name of a charming children’s book heroine (pictured), attracted over 150 percent more traffic in the first three months of 2013 than it did in the same period in 2012.

Image 3 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

This Top 10 Swedish name is attracting new attention here as a more exotic member of the popular floral family of girls’ names: It means twinflower and is derived from the name of the renowned botanist Carolus Linnaeus. It may be pronounced lin-NAY-ah or lin-NEE-ah. Linnea, also the name of a charming children’s book heroine (pictured), attracted over 150 percent more traffic in the first three months of 2013 than it did in the same period in 2012.

This Top 10 Swedish name is attracting new attention here as a more...exotic member of the popular floral family of girls’ names: It means...twinflower and is derived from the name of the renowned botanist...Carolus Linnaeus. It may be pronounced lin-NAY-ah or lin-NEE-ah. ...Linnea, also the name of a charming children’s book heroine...(pictured), attracted over 150 percent more traffic in the first three...months of 2013 than it did in the same period in 2012.

Image 4 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Christian has been a popular name for boys for two decades now, yet interest in it has tripled in the first quarter of 2013 over the same period last year. What happened? 'Fifty Shades of Grey' and hero Christian Grey added their notoriety to the already-romantic image conveyed by actors Christian Bale and Christian Slater along with designers Christian Dior, Lacroix, and Laboutin.

Image 4 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Christian has been a popular name for boys for two decades now, yet interest in it has tripled in the first quarter of 2013 over the same period last year. What happened? 'Fifty Shades of Grey' and hero Christian Grey added their notoriety to the already-romantic image conveyed by actors Christian Bale and Christian Slater along with designers Christian Dior, Lacroix, and Laboutin.

Christian has been a popular name for boys for two decades now, yet...interest in it has tripled in the first quarter of 2013 over the same...period last year. What happened? 'Fifty Shades of Grey' and hero...Christian Grey added their notoriety to the already-romantic image...conveyed by actors Christian Bale and Christian Slater along with...designers Christian Dior, Lacroix, and Laboutin.

Image 5 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Neil Mockford / FilmMagic

Marlowe and to a lesser extent Marlow are enjoying big bounces in the first part of this year thanks to a bumper crop of starbabies: Sienna Miller’s Marlowe Ottoline (pictured), Nathan Followill’s Violet Marlowe, and Jason Schwartzman’s Marlowe — all girls — along with designer Phoebe Philo’s son Marlow. Not to mention 16th century dramatist Christopher Marlowe. The English surname, which you might think of as a fresh spin on the flagging Marley, means driftwood and is up over 350 percent, primarily for girls.

Image 5 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Marlowe and to a lesser extent Marlow are enjoying big bounces in the first part of this year thanks to a bumper crop of starbabies: Sienna Miller’s Marlowe Ottoline (pictured), Nathan Followill’s Violet Marlowe, and Jason Schwartzman’s Marlowe — all girls — along with designer Phoebe Philo’s son Marlow. Not to mention 16th century dramatist Christopher Marlowe. The English surname, which you might think of as a fresh spin on the flagging Marley, means driftwood and is up over 350 percent, primarily for girls.

Marlowe and to a lesser extent Marlow are enjoying big bounces in the...first part of this year thanks to a bumper crop of starbabies: Sienna...Miller’s Marlowe Ottoline (pictured), Nathan Followill’s Violet...Marlowe, and Jason Schwartzman’s Marlowe — all girls — along...with designer Phoebe Philo’s son Marlow. Not to mention 16th century...dramatist Christopher Marlowe. The English surname, which you might...think of as a fresh spin on the flagging Marley, means driftwood and...is up over 350 percent, primarily for girls.

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(Somer Books)

Finnegan is an Irish surname meaning “fair” that many parents are choosing as a long form for the popular Finn. Also embodying literary references to 'Finnegan’s Wake' by James Joyce, Finnegan has been on the US Top 1000 since 2005 and now stands at Number 478. Views of Finnegan are up over 125 percent on Nameberry in the first quarter of 2013.

Image 6 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Finnegan is an Irish surname meaning “fair” that many parents are choosing as a long form for the popular Finn. Also embodying literary references to 'Finnegan’s Wake' by James Joyce, Finnegan has been on the US Top 1000 since 2005 and now stands at Number 478. Views of Finnegan are up over 125 percent on Nameberry in the first quarter of 2013.

Finnegan is an Irish surname meaning “fair” that many parents are...choosing as a long form for the popular Finn. Also embodying literary...references to 'Finnegan’s Wake' by James Joyce, Finnegan has been on...the US Top 1000 since 2005 and now stands at Number 478. Views of...Finnegan are up over 125 percent on Nameberry in the first quarter of...2013.

Image 7 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Jim Spellman / WireImage

The 60s-ish nickname-name Marnie had its first moment in the sun in the, well, 60s, when the eponymous Hitchcock movie came out, and now is enjoying an unlikely resurgence thanks to the Marnie character played by the lovely Allison Williams (pictured, left) on HBO’s 'Girls,' and to its choice by pop singer Lily Allen for her younger daughter. Interest in Marnie, a variation of a Hebrew name meaning rejoice, has shot up sevenfold on Nameberry over the first quarter of
last year.

Image 7 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

The 60s-ish nickname-name Marnie had its first moment in the sun in the, well, 60s, when the eponymous Hitchcock movie came out, and now is enjoying an unlikely resurgence thanks to the Marnie character played by the lovely Allison Williams (pictured, left) on HBO’s 'Girls,' and to its choice by pop singer Lily Allen for her younger daughter. Interest in Marnie, a variation of a Hebrew name meaning rejoice, has shot up sevenfold on Nameberry over the first quarter of
last year.

The 60s-ish nickname-name Marnie had its first moment in the sun in...the, well, 60s, when the eponymous Hitchcock movie came out, and now...is enjoying an unlikely resurgence thanks to the Marnie character...played by the lovely Allison Williams (pictured, left) on HBO’s...'Girls,' and to its choice by pop singer Lily Allen for her younger...daughter. Interest in Marnie, a variation of a Hebrew name meaning...rejoice, has shot up sevenfold on Nameberry over the first quarter...of
last year.

Image 8 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

John D. Kisch / Getty

This surname of jazz great Charles was first used as a baby name by supermodel Helena Christensen. Interest in Mingus is up over 150 percent in the first three months of this year, and other jazzy names finding new fans include Miles, Ella, Calloway, Ellington, Etta, and Thelonious. Mingus is up over 150 percent so far in 2013.

Image 8 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

This surname of jazz great Charles was first used as a baby name by supermodel Helena Christensen. Interest in Mingus is up over 150 percent in the first three months of this year, and other jazzy names finding new fans include Miles, Ella, Calloway, Ellington, Etta, and Thelonious. Mingus is up over 150 percent so far in 2013.

This surname of jazz great Charles was first used as a baby name by...supermodel Helena Christensen. Interest in Mingus is up over 150...percent in the first three months of this year, and other jazzy names...finding new fans include Miles, Ella, Calloway, Ellington, Etta, and...Thelonious. Mingus is up over 150 percent so far in 2013.

Image 9 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Redferns / Getty Images

The sweetly old-fashioned diminutive Nelly, which appeared only briefly on the Top 1000 more than a century ago, is basking in new light thanks to singer Nelly Furtado as well as its use as a nickname for Kardashian baby Penelope “Nelly” Disick. Cute! Originally a short form for Helen or Eleanor, Nelly and sister names Nellie and Nell have been off the official scope for several decades but Nelly is up in our statistics nearly 300 percent for 2013.

Image 9 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

The sweetly old-fashioned diminutive Nelly, which appeared only briefly on the Top 1000 more than a century ago, is basking in new light thanks to singer Nelly Furtado as well as its use as a nickname for Kardashian baby Penelope “Nelly” Disick. Cute! Originally a short form for Helen or Eleanor, Nelly and sister names Nellie and Nell have been off the official scope for several decades but Nelly is up in our statistics nearly 300 percent for 2013.

The sweetly old-fashioned diminutive Nelly, which appeared only...briefly on the Top 1000 more than a century ago, is basking in new...light thanks to singer Nelly Furtado as well as its use as a nickname...for Kardashian baby Penelope “Nelly” Disick. Cute! Originally a...short form for Helen or Eleanor, Nelly and sister names Nellie and...Nell have been off the official scope for several decades but Nelly is...up in our statistics nearly 300 percent for 2013.

Image 10 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Alex Martinez / Bravo

Phaedra is an ancient mythological name with a tragic backstory that’s finding new life in the modern world. This Greek name meaning bright has a rich literary history. But it may be the 'Real Housewife of Atlanta' named Phaedra (pictured) who’s responsible for the name’s 178 percent rise so far this year.

Image 10 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Phaedra is an ancient mythological name with a tragic backstory that’s finding new life in the modern world. This Greek name meaning bright has a rich literary history. But it may be the 'Real Housewife of Atlanta' named Phaedra (pictured) who’s responsible for the name’s 178 percent rise so far this year.

Phaedra is an ancient mythological name with a tragic backstory...that’s finding new life in the modern world. This Greek name meaning...bright has a rich literary history. But it may be the 'Real Housewife...of Atlanta' named Phaedra (pictured) who’s responsible for the...name’s 178 percent rise so far this year.

Image 11 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Simon James / FilmMagic

Hunky Chris Hemsworth and 'The Avengers' did for Thor what the god of Norse mythology could not: Made it a popping baby name for 2013. Views of the name Thor, which means thunder, are up over 200 percent in the first three months of this year, joining other newly cool mythological names such as Orion, Juno, Jupiter and Persephone.

Image 11 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Hunky Chris Hemsworth and 'The Avengers' did for Thor what the god of Norse mythology could not: Made it a popping baby name for 2013. Views of the name Thor, which means thunder, are up over 200 percent in the first three months of this year, joining other newly cool mythological names such as Orion, Juno, Jupiter and Persephone.

Hunky Chris Hemsworth and 'The Avengers' did for Thor what the god of...Norse mythology could not: Made it a popping baby name for 2013. ...Views of the name Thor, which means thunder, are up over 200 percent...in the first three months of this year, joining other newly cool...mythological names such as Orion, Juno, Jupiter and Persephone.

Image 12 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

Sowetan / Getty

Severine may be past its prime in its native France, but its use for the latest Bond Girl in 'Skyfall' has won it new interest as a baby name possibility. With views up more than 200 percent on Nameberry in the first part of the year, Severine joins Harry Potteresque brother name Severus they both mean, not surprisingly, severe or stern as a fresh 21st-century choice.

Image 12 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Severine may be past its prime in its native France, but its use for the latest Bond Girl in 'Skyfall' has won it new interest as a baby name possibility. With views up more than 200 percent on Nameberry in the first part of the year, Severine joins Harry Potteresque brother name Severus they both mean, not surprisingly, severe or stern as a fresh 21st-century choice.

Severine may be past its prime in its native France, but its use for...the latest Bond Girl in 'Skyfall' has won it new interest as a baby...name possibility. With views up more than 200 percent on Nameberry in...the first part of the year, Severine joins Harry Potteresque brother...name Severus they both mean, not surprisingly, severe or stern as a...fresh 21st-century choice.

Image 13 of 13|Popular baby names 2013

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Bruce Springsteen performs for fans with the E Street Band during his Wrecking Ball Tour at Allphones Arena on March 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia.

Image 13 of 13 - Popular baby names 2013

Bruce Springsteen performs for fans with the E Street Band during his Wrecking Ball Tour at Allphones Arena on March 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia.

Bruce Springsteen performs for fans with the E Street Band during his...Wrecking Ball Tour at Allphones Arena on March 18, 2013 in Sydney,...Australia.